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Abstract:

Spray bottles are disclosed. Methods of making and using spray bottles
are also disclosed.

Claims:

1. A spray bottle comprising: a container comprising an upper end, a
lower end, and at least one major side surface between the upper end and
the lower end; a spray mechanism operatively adapted to spray a fluid
from the container; a spray trigger operatively adapted to initiate fluid
flow of a fluid from the container through the spray mechanism; and an
aperture extending through the at least one major side surface of the
container from a first side of the container to a second side of the
container, said aperture being completely surrounded by portions of the
at least one major side surface; wherein said spray trigger is positioned
within said aperture and pivotally mounted within said aperture, and
movement of a lower portion of said spray trigger in a first direction
causes an upper portion of said spray trigger to move in a second
direction, the second direction being an opposite direction to the first
direction.

2. The spray bottle of claim 1, wherein the container comprises two major
side surfaces with a first major side surface along the first side of the
container, and a second major side surface along the second side of the
container.

3. The spray bottle of claim 2, wherein the container comprises an upper
piece and a lower piece, said upper and lower pieces being operatively
adapted to connect to one another to form said container and the at least
one major side surface.

4-5. (canceled)

6. The spray bottle of claim 3, wherein said aperture extends through at
least a portion of the upper and lower pieces.

8. The spray bottle of claim 7, wherein the lower piece comprises at
least one lower piece opening that provides access to the fluid storage
compartment.

9. The spray bottle of claim 8, wherein the lower piece comprises a
single lower piece opening that provides access to the fluid storage
compartment.

10. The spray bottle of claim 9, wherein the upper piece comprises at
least one male connecting member proximate a lower surface thereof, and
the lower piece comprises at least one corresponding female connecting
member proximate an upper surface thereof, said male connecting member
being operatively adapted to connect to said corresponding female
connecting member via said at least one male connecting member and said
at least one female connecting member.

11. The spray bottle of claim 10, wherein the upper piece comprises two
male connecting members, and the lower piece comprises two corresponding
female connecting members proximate an upper surface thereof, said male
connecting member being operatively adapted to connect to said
corresponding female connecting member via said two male connecting
member and said two female connecting member.

12. A spray bottle of comprising: a container comprising an upper end, a
lower end, and at least one major side surface between the upper end and
the lower end; a spray mechanism operatively adapted to spray a fluid
from the container; a spray trigger operatively adapted to initiate fluid
flow of a fluid from the container through the spray mechanism; and an
aperture extending through the at least one major side surface of the
container from a first side of the container to a second side of the
container, said aperture being completely surrounded by portions of the
at least one major side surface; wherein said spray trigger is positioned
within said aperture and is attached to an upper region of the aperture.

13. The spray bottle of claim 12, wherein the container further comprises
a trigger support member positioned within the aperture, said spray
trigger being attached to said trigger support member.

14. The spray bottle of claim 13, wherein the container further comprises
a pin, said pin extending through said spray trigger so as to attach said
spray trigger to said trigger support member.

15. The spray bottle of claim 14, wherein said spray mechanism comprises
(i) a spray fluid channel, (ii) a plunger operatively adapted to extend
into said spray fluid channel in response to a spray initiation force,
(iii) a fluid expulsion apparatus in fluid communication with said spray
fluid channel, and (iv) a hollow straw in fluid communication with and
extending below said spray fluid channel.

16. The spray bottle of claim 15, wherein said spray trigger is pivotally
mounted within said aperture, and movement of a lower portion of said
spray trigger in a first direction causes an upper portion of said spray
trigger to move in a second direction, the second direction being an
opposite direction to the first direction.

17. A spray bottle comprising: a container comprising an upper end, a
lower end, and two major side surfaces between the upper end and the
lower end; a spray mechanism operatively adapted to spray a fluid from
the container, said spray mechanism comprising (i) a spray fluid channel,
(ii) a plunger operatively adapted to extend into said spray fluid
channel in response to a spray initiation force, (iii) a fluid expulsion
apparatus in fluid communication with said spray fluid channel, and (iv)
a hollow straw in fluid communication with and extending below said spray
fluid channel; a spray trigger operatively adapted to initiate fluid flow
of a fluid from the container through the spray mechanism; and an
aperture extending through the two major side surfaces of the container
from a first side of the container to a second side of the container,
said aperture being completely surrounded by portions of both of the two
major side surfaces; wherein said spray trigger is positioned within said
aperture and said plunger moves toward (i) said fluid expulsion apparatus
and (ii) a fluid exit of the container in response to a spray initiation
force exerted on said plunger by an upper region of said spray trigger.

18. The spray bottle of claim 17, wherein said spray fluid channel
comprises a male fitting positioned proximate a lower portion of said
spray fluid channel, said male fitting being operatively adapted to
connect to (i) a corresponding female fitting on a lower piece of said
container or (ii) an opening that provides access to a fluid storage
compartment within the lower piece of said container.

19. The spray bottle of claim 18, wherein said spray mechanism further
comprises a gasket extending around a lower portion of said spray fluid
reservoir above said male fitting, said gasket being operatively adapted
to help seal a junction between said spray fluid reservoir and said
corresponding female fitting or said opening.

20. The spray bottle of claim 17, wherein the container comprises an
upper piece and a lower piece, said upper and lower pieces being
operatively adapted to connect to one another to form said container and
the at least one major side surface, and said hollow straw is attached to
said upper piece and extends into a fluid storage compartment within the
lower piece of the container when the upper piece is connected to the
lower piece.

21-22. (canceled)

23. The spray bottle of claim 1, wherein said aperture has a
cross-sectional shape selected from the group of shapes consisting of a
circle, a tear-drop, a square, a diamond, a triangle, a rhombus, a star,
a hexagon, a rectangle, or a parallelogram, or any other multi-sided
shape.

24. The spray bottle of claim 23, wherein said aperture has a
cross-sectional shape comprising a circle.

25-29. (canceled)

Description:

[0001] This application is being filed as a PCT International Patent
Application in the name of Andy Davis, a U.S. citizen, claiming priority
to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/299,435 filed on 29
Jan. 2010, which is entitled "SPRAY BOTTLE AND METHODS OF MAKING AND
USING THE SAME."

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to spray bottles, methods of making
spray bottles, and methods of using spray bottles.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Efforts continue to develop spray bottles that (1) efficiently and
effectively spray a fluid (e.g., a liquid), (2) are relatively easy to
use, (3) provide an aesthetically pleasing look for spray manufacturers,
and (4) are economical to use and make.

SUMMARY

[0004] The present invention continues the effort to develop spray bottles
by the discovery of spray bottles that (i) are efficiently and
effectively spray a fluid (e.g., a liquid), (ii) are relatively easy to
use, (iii) provide an aesthetically pleasing look for spray
manufacturers, and (iv) are economical to use and make.

[0005] In one exemplary embodiment, the spray bottle of the present
invention comprises a container comprising an upper end, a lower end, and
at least one major side surface between the upper end and the lower end;
a spray mechanism operatively adapted to spray a fluid from the
container; a spray trigger operatively adapted to initiate fluid flow of
a fluid from the container through the spray mechanism; and an aperture
extending through the at least one major side surface of the container
from a first side of the container to a second side of the container, the
aperture being completely surrounded by portions of the at least one
major side surface; wherein the spray trigger is positioned within said
aperture.

[0006] In another exemplary embodiment, the spray bottle of the present
invention comprises a container comprising an upper end, a lower end, and
at least one major side surface between the upper end and the lower end;
an upper piece and a lower piece, the upper and lower pieces being
operatively adapted to connect to one another to form (i) the container
and (ii) the at least one major side surface; a spray mechanism
operatively adapted to spray a fluid from the container; a spray trigger
operatively adapted to initiate fluid flow of a fluid from the container
through the spray mechanism; and an aperture extending through the at
least one major side surface of the container from a first side of the
container to a second side of the container, the aperture being
completely surrounded by portions of the at least one major side surface;
wherein the spray trigger is positioned within the aperture, and the
aperture extends through at least a portion of the upper piece.

[0007] In yet another exemplary embodiment, the spray bottle of the
present invention comprises a container comprising an upper end, a lower
end, and at least one major side surface between the upper end and the
lower end; a spray mechanism comprising (i) a spray fluid reservoir, (ii)
a plunger operatively adapted to extend into the spray fluid reservoir in
response to a spray initiation force, (iii) a fluid expulsion member in
fluid communication with the spray fluid reservoir, and (iv) a hollow
straw in fluid communication with and extending below the spray fluid
reservoir into a fluid storage compartment of the container; an aperture
extending through the at least one major side surface of the container
from a first side of the container to a second side of the container, the
aperture being completely surrounded by portions of the at least one
major side surface; and a spray trigger positioned within the aperture,
the spray trigger being operatively adapted to initiate fluid flow of a
fluid from the container through the spray mechanism; wherein the plunger
moves toward (i) the fluid expulsion apparatus and (ii) a fluid exit of
the container in response to a spray initiation force exerted on the
plunger by an upper region of the spray trigger.

[0008] In yet another exemplary embodiment, the spray bottle of the
present invention comprises a spray bottle comprising a container
comprising an upper end, a lower end, and at least one major side surface
between the upper end and the lower end; a spray mechanism comprising (i)
a spray fluid reservoir, (ii) a plunger operatively adapted to extend
into the spray fluid reservoir in response to a spray initiation force,
(iii) a fluid expulsion member in fluid communication with the spray
fluid reservoir, and (iv) a hollow straw in fluid communication with and
extending below the spray fluid reservoir into a fluid storage
compartment of the container; an aperture extending through the at least
one major side surface of the container from a first side of the
container to a second side of the container, the aperture being
completely surrounded by portions of the at least one major side surface;
and a spray trigger positioned within the aperture, the spray trigger
being operatively adapted to initiate fluid flow of a fluid from the
container through the spray mechanism; wherein the (i) hollow straw and
(ii) a fluid exit of the container are both positioned in front of the
spray trigger and the aperture.

[0009] In yet a further exemplary embodiment, the spray bottle of the
present invention comprises a container comprising an upper end, a lower
end, and at least one major side surface between the upper end and the
lower end; a spray mechanism operatively adapted to spray a fluid from
within the container through a fluid exit of the container; an aperture
extending through the at least one major side surface of the container
from a first side of the container to a second side of the container, the
aperture being completely surrounded by portions of the at least one
major side surface; and a spray trigger positioned within the aperture,
the spray trigger being operatively adapted to initiate fluid flow of a
fluid from the container through the spray mechanism; wherein the
aperture has a cross-sectional shape selected from the group of shapes
consisting of a circle, a square, a triangle, a rhombus, a star, a
hexagon, a rectangle, a parallelogram, or any other multi-sided shape.

[0010] The present invention is further directed to methods of making the
disclosed spray bottles and methods of using the disclosed spray bottles.

[0011] These and other features and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent after a review of the following detailed description
of the disclosed embodiments and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The present invention is further described with reference to the
appended figures, wherein:

[0013]FIG. 1 depicts a 3/4 angle view of an exemplary spray bottle of the
present invention showing an exemplary spray bottle aperture therein with
an exemplary trigger within the exemplary aperture;

[0014]FIG. 2 depicts a side elevation view of an exemplary top piece
suitable for forming an upper portion of the exemplary spray bottle of
FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 4 depicts a side elevation view of the exemplary lower piece
of FIG. 3;

[0017]FIG. 5 depicts an underside view of the exemplary top piece of FIG.
2 with exemplary spray pump mechanism and trigger attached;

[0018]FIG. 6 depicts an underside view of the exemplary top piece of FIG.
2 with only an exemplary trigger attached;

[0019]FIG. 7 depicts a view of the exemplary lower piece of FIG. 3 as
viewed from above (and down on) the exemplary lower piece;

[0020]FIG. 8 depicts a view of the exemplary lower piece of FIG. 3 as
viewed from below (and up at) the exemplary lower piece;

[0021]FIG. 9 depicts a side view of another exemplary spray bottle of the
present invention showing an exemplary spray bottle aperture therein with
an exemplary trigger within the exemplary aperture;

[0022]FIG. 10 depicts a cut-away view of (i) an exemplary top piece with
spray trigger attached and (ii) an exemplary lower section of the
exemplary spray bottle of FIG. 9;

[0023]FIG. 11 depicts a side view of an exemplary spray pump mechanism,
an exemplary hollow straw, and an exemplary trigger device attached to
the exemplary spray pump mechanism with exemplary tension clips;

[0024] FIG. 12 depicts a view of the exemplary spray pump mechanism and
the exemplary trigger device of FIG. 11 as viewed from above the
exemplary spray pump mechanism;

[0025]FIG. 13 depicts a view of the exemplary spray bottle of FIG. 9 as
viewed from above the exemplary spray bottle;

[0026]FIG. 14 depicts an elevation view of the back side of the exemplary
spray bottle of FIG. 9;

[0027]FIG. 15 depicts an elevation view of the front side of the
exemplary spray bottle of FIG. 9;

[0028]FIG. 16 depicts a cut-away view of an exemplary top piece and an
exemplary lower section of the exemplary spray bottle of FIG. 9 showing
an exemplary spray pump mechanism, an exemplary hollow straw and an
exemplary trigger device attached with an exemplary metal or plastic pin;

[0031] To promote an understanding of the principles of the present
invention, descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention follow
and specific language is used to describe the specific embodiments. It
will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the
invention is intended by the use of specific language. Alterations,
further modifications, and such further applications of the principles of
the present invention discussed are contemplated as would normally occur
to one ordinarily skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

[0032] The present invention is directed to spray bottles as shown in
FIGS. 1-18, and as described in the claims below. As used herein, the
term "multi-sided shape" refers to a shape comprising three or more sides
(e.g., a triangular shape having three sides, a square shape having four
sides, etc.). The term "multi-sided shape" also refers to complex shapes
that comprise one or more straight sides, one or more curved sides, one
or more indentations sized so that a user's finger(s) may be positioned
within the one or more indentations of the aperture shape, or any
combination thereof.

[0033] As shown, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 3, exemplary spray bottle 100
comprises an upper end 67, a lower end 66, and two major side surfaces 58
and 59 extending between upper end 67 and the lower end 66. Exemplary
spray bottle 100 actually comprises two major side surfaces 58 and 59
(opposite one another and through which the aperture 60 extends), as well
as two minor side surfaces 64 and 65 (opposite one another and extending
between the two major side surfaces 58 and 59). In other configurations
(not shown), a given spray bottle may have a single major side surface,
such as when the spray bottle has a circular cross-sectional
configuration. It should be understood that there are no limitations with
regard to the shape of the spray bottle of the present invention other
than having an aperture 60 extending through at least one major side
surface (e.g., major side surfaces 58 and 59) of the spray bottle with a
spray trigger 35 positioned within the aperture 60.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, exemplary spray bottle 100 comprises two
major side surfaces 58 and 59 with a first major side surface 58 along
the first side of the container, and a second major side surface 59 along
the second side of the container. As shown in FIG. 1, major side surface
59 extends from upper end 67 to lower end 66, and encompasses aperture
60. Aperture 60 extends through exemplary spray bottle 100 and provides
therein a spray trigger 35, support structure 33 for spray trigger 35 and
positioned in an upper portion of aperture 60 along aperture edge 32, and
metal or plastic pin 34 to attach spray trigger 35 to support structure
33 and provide a pivot point for spray trigger 35.

[0035] As further shown in FIG. 1 and subsequent figures, exemplary spray
bottle 100 comprises an upper piece 31 and a lower piece 36, with upper
and lower pieces 31 and 36 being operatively adapted to connect to one
another at connection locations 68 and 69 to form exemplary spray bottle
100 and the at least one major side surface (e.g., two major side
surfaces 58 and 59).

[0036] In some exemplary embodiments, such as with exemplary spray bottle
100, aperture 60 extends through at least a portion of upper piece 31. In
some exemplary embodiments, such as with exemplary spray bottle 100,
aperture 60 extends through at least a portion of the lower piece 36. In
some exemplary embodiments, such as with exemplary spray bottle 100,
aperture 60 extends through at least a portion of the upper and lower
pieces 31 and 36.

[0040] Desirably, spray bottles of the present invention comprise an upper
piece, such as exemplary upper piece 31, wherein the upper piece
comprises at least one male connecting member (or at least one female
connecting member) proximate a lower surface thereof, and the lower
piece, such as exemplary lower piece 36, comprises at least one
corresponding female connecting member (or at least one corresponding
male connecting member) proximate an upper surface thereof, the male
connecting member (or the female connecting member) being operatively
adapted to connect to the corresponding female connecting member (or the
corresponding male connecting member) via the at least one male
connecting member (or the at least one female connecting member) and the
at least one female connecting member (or the at least one male
connecting member).

[0041] As shown in exemplary spray bottle 100, in some exemplary
embodiments, the upper piece, such as exemplary upper piece 31, comprises
two male connecting members (or two female connecting members), and the
lower piece, such as exemplary lower piece 36, comprises two
corresponding female connecting members (or two corresponding male
connecting members) proximate an upper surface thereof, the two male
connecting members being operatively adapted to connect to the two
corresponding female connecting members via the two male connecting
members (or two female connecting members) and the two female connecting
members (or two male connecting members).

[0051]FIG. 11 depicts a side view of exemplary spray pump mechanism 39,
an exemplary hollow straw 41, and an exemplary spray trigger device 35 in
combination with exemplary spray pump mechanism 39. FIG. 11 depicts one
desired feature of the present invention, wherein exemplary spray bottle
200 comprises exemplary spray trigger 35 pivotally mounted within
aperture 60, and movement of a lower portion 351 of spray trigger 35 in a
first direction (shown by arrow A in FIG. 11) causes an upper portion 352
of spray trigger 35 to move in a second direction (shown by arrow B in
FIG. 11), the second direction being an opposite direction to the first
direction.

[0053] Although not shown in FIG. 11, exemplary spray fluid channel 88
typically comprises a spring positioned within exemplary spray fluid
channel 88 so as to provide resistance to plunger 44 moving in direction
B. As plunger 44 moves in direction B, a spring (not shown) is compacted
into a high tension state. As pressure is released from lower portion 351
of spray trigger 35, the spring forces plunger 44 back to its original
position (i.e., moves plunger 44 in direction A). Although exemplary
spray fluid channel 88 has been described as being useable with a spring,
it should be understood that any component that contracts or compacts by
movement of plunger 44 in direction B, and causes plunger 44 to move back
to its original position (i.e., move in direction A) as pressure is
released from lower portion 351 of spray trigger 35 may be used in
exemplary spray fluid channel 88.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 11, exemplary spray fluid channel 88 comprises a
male fitting 49 positioned proximate a lower portion 89 of spray fluid
reservoir 88 with male fitting 49 being operatively adapted to connect to
(i) a corresponding female fitting (not shown) on a lower piece (e.g.,
exemplary lower piece 36) of the container or (ii) an opening that
provides access to a fluid storage compartment within the lower piece of
the container (e.g., similar to exemplary opening 53 shown in FIG. 7).
Desirably, exemplary spray pump mechanism 39 further comprises a gasket
40 extending around lower portion 89 of spray fluid reservoir 88 above
male fitting 49, wherein gasket 40 is operatively adapted to help seal a
junction between spray fluid reservoir 88 and (i) a corresponding female
fitting (not shown) on a lower piece (e.g., exemplary lower piece 36) of
the container or (ii) an opening that provides access to a fluid storage
compartment within the lower piece of the container (e.g., similar to
exemplary opening 53 shown in FIG. 7).

[0058] As shown in FIG. 16 and in desired exemplary embodiments of the
present invention, (i) hollow straw 41 and (ii) fluid exit 61 of
exemplary spray bottle 200 are both positioned in front of exemplary
spray trigger 35. Further, as shown in FIG. 16 and in desired exemplary
embodiments of the present invention, tip 70 of hollow straw 41 is
positioned proximate a lower corner of fluid storage compartment 90 with
the lower corner being at a junction of inner side surface 76 and inner
bottom surface 77.

[0059] It should be noted that the ability of tip 70 of hollow straw 41 to
be positioned at the junction of inner side surface 76 and inner bottom
surface 77 enables a user of exemplary spray bottle 200 to utilize
essentially all of the fluid within exemplary spray bottle 200 during
use. In other words, the position of tip 70 effectively drains spray
bottle 200 during use. It should be further noted that tip 70 of hollow
straw 41 is positionable at the junction of inner side surface 76 and
inner bottom surface 77 by simply attaching exemplary spray pump
mechanism 39 to lower piece 36. In some embodiments, hollow straw 41
extends directly downward from opening 53 in lower piece 36 so as to be
positionable at the junction of inner side surface 76 and inner bottom
surface 77. In other embodiments, hollow straw 41 may comprise some
curvature along hollow straw 41 so that tip 70 is positioned at the
junction of inner side surface 76 and inner bottom surface 77 when
connected to lower piece 36.

[0060]FIG. 16 also shows a spray trigger stop 99 positioned proximate
upper portion 352 of exemplary spray trigger 35. Spray trigger stop 99
prevents upper portion 352 of exemplary spray trigger 35 from moving too
far to the right (i.e., in direction A). Although exemplary spray bottle
200 is shown with spray trigger stop 99, it should be noted that any
component may be used in place of positioned spray trigger stop 99 as
long as the component prevents upper portion 352 of exemplary spray
trigger 35 from moving too far to the right.

[0062] As shown in exemplary spray bottles 100 and 200, spray bottles of
the present invention may have a variety of bottle and aperture shapes.
Suitable aperture shapes include, but are not limited to, apertures
having a cross-sectional shape selected from the group of shapes
consisting of a circle, a tear-drop, a square, a diamond, a triangle, a
rhombus, a star, a hexagon, a rectangle, or a parallelogram, or any other
multi-sided shape. In one desired embodiment, the aperture has a
cross-sectional shape comprising a circle.

[0063] The present invention is further directed to methods of making the
spray bottle, wherein the spray bottle comprises one or more of the
features described above. Methods of making the spray bottles of the
present invention may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the
following method steps: thermoforming (e.g., injection molding, blow
molding, etc.) one or more outer bottle pieces (e.g., lower and upper
pieces 31 and 36, spray trigger 35, etc.); thermoforming (e.g., molding,
blow molding, etc.) one or more inner bottle pieces (e.g., plunger 44,
spray fluid channel 88, hollow straw 41, etc.); assembling inner pieces
with one another to form a spray pump mechanism (e.g., exemplary spray
pump mechanism 39); assembling one or more outer pieces with one another
to form a spray bottle having an aperture therethrough and a spray
trigger positioned within the aperture (e.g., exemplary spray trigger 35
within aperture 60); and filling a fluid storage compartment (e.g., fluid
storage compartment 90) with a sprayable fluid.

[0064] The present invention is even further directed to methods of using
any of the above-described spray bottles. Methods of using any of the
spray bottles of the present invention may include, but are not limited
to, one or more of the following steps: filling a fluid storage
compartment (e.g., fluid storage compartment 90) with a sprayable fluid;
inserting one or more fingers through an aperture within the spray bottle
(e.g., exemplary spray trigger 35); pointing a fluid exit (e.g.,
exemplary fluid exit 51) of the spray bottle at a spray location;
applying pressure onto a spray trigger so as to initiate fluid flow
through the spray bottle; and releasing pressure from a spray trigger to
stop fluid flow from exiting the spray bottle.

[0066] While the specification has been described in detail with respect
to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those
skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may
readily conceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to
these embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should
be assessed as that of the appended claims and any equivalents thereto.

Patent applications in class Including handle or handgrip for supply container and attached outlet

Patent applications in all subclasses Including handle or handgrip for supply container and attached outlet